Synopsis

Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life. Tali Sharot—one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today—takes this a step further. Optimism, she shows, may in fact be crucial to our existence.

In this absorbing exploration, Sharot takes an in-depth, clarifying look at

With its cutting-edge science and its wide-ranging narrative, The Optimism Bias provides us with startling new insight into the workings of the brain and the major role that optimism plays in determining how we live our lives.

Excerpt

Table of Contents

Prologue: A Glass Forever Half Full? 1. Which Way Is Up? Illusions of the Human Brain 2. Are Animals Stuck in Time? The Evolution of Prospection 3. Is Optimism a Self- Fulfi lling Prophecy? How the Mind Transforms Predictions into Reality 4. What Do Barack Obama and Shirley Temple Have in Common? When Private Optimism Meets Public Despair 5. Can You Predict What Will Make You Happy? The Unexpected Ingredient for Well- being 6. Crocuses Popping Up Through the Snow? When Things Go Wrong: Depression, Interpretation,and Genes 7. Why Is Friday Better Than Sunday? The Value of Anticipation and the Cost of Dread 8. Why Do Things Seem Better After We Choose Them? The Mind’s Journey from Expectation to Choice and Back 9. Are Memories of 9/11 as Accurate as They Seem? How Emotion Changes Our Past 10. Why Is Being a Cancer Survivor Better Than Winning the Tour de France? How the Brain Turns Lead into Gold 11. A Dark Side to Optimism? From World War II to the Credit Crunch—Underestimating Risk Is Like Drinking Red Wine Epilogue: A Beautiful Mademoiselle or a Sad Old Lady? From Prediction to Perception to Action Acknowledgments Notes Index

About Tali Sharot

Tali Sharot’s research on optimism, memory, and emotion has been the subject of features in Newsweek, The Boston Globe, Time, The Wall Street Journal, New Scientist, and The Washington Post, as well as on the BBC. She has a Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience from New York University and is currently a faculty member of the Department of Cognitive, Perceptual, and Brain Sciences at University College London. She lives in London.

Praise

Praise

“Fascinating. . . . Even if you’re a dedicated cynic, you might be surprised to learn that your brain is wearing rose-colored glasses, whether you like it or not.”—NPR

“What a treat. A charming, engaging and accessible book written by a scientist who knows how to tell a story.”—Richard Thaler, author of Nudge

“An insightful, Oliver Sacks-y first book.”—The Village Voice

“Very enjoyable, highly original and packed with eye-opening insight, this is a beautifully written book that really brings psychology alive.”—Simon Baron-Cohen, author of The Science of Evil

“If you read her story, you’ll get a better grip on how we function in it. I’m optimistic about that.”—Richard Stengel, Time

“Once I started reading The Optimism Bias, I could not put it down.”—Louisa Jewell, Positive Psychology News Daily

“An intelligently written look into why most people take an optimistic view of life. . . . [A] fascinating trip into why we prefer to remain hopeful about our future and ourselves.”—New York Journal of Books

“With rare talent Sharot takes us on an unforgettable tour of the hopes, traps and tricks of our brains. . . . A must-read.”—David Eagleman, author of Incognito